Michael Beale faces Rangers stalking horse for coveted vacancy and Hecky's also in the the frame

Stoke City have reportedly "held initial talks" with former Rangers boss Michael Beale to replace Alex Neil, according to a report.

Former Hamilton and Norwich City Neil departed from the club Sunday evening and the rumour mill was quickly in full flood as a host of potential replacements were touted around - with former Ibrox midfielder and ex-Birmingham City boss John Eustace quickly emerging as the favourite for the hot seat for the struggling English Championship side having watched the game against Swansea on Tuesday.

But Beale has emerged as a candidate for the post with the Daily Telegraph stating that Beale is among "a number of candidates" who has been spoken to about joining the Potters battle to avoid the drop just two months after being shown the door by the Scottish Premiership side after a miserable start to the campaign. The other candidates include Eustace and former Sheffield United boss Paul Heckingbottom.

Beale was shown the door after less than a year in a hot seat after stepping away from his role as Steven Gerrard's trusted lieutenant at Ibrox and Aston Villa to become a manager in his own right at Queens Park Rangers. He would be grab the and leave the London club behind when Rangers came calling following the sacking of Giovanni van Bronckhorst last November.

It was a busy summer for Beale as he drafted in nine new recruits - but failed to keep pace with Celtic. The Ibrox board would move to axe the boss in October.